Gridlock in Washington, D.C.

 Broken Washington Politics Matters: It's About You

By Mildred Robertson

Sometimes we wonder whether what is going on in Washington D.C. has any real impact on our lives. I have all but tuned out on the debate on President Biden’s “Build Back Better” campaign.  The endless wrangling over the hard infrastructure package, and the contentious $3.5 trillion soft infrastructure package proposed by Democrats seem to be unending and unfruitful. As politicians debate about the various components of that package, such as healthcare, Medicare and Medicaid, many of us think, I am doing okay. I can afford my medications and doctor’s visits. The fact is, you do not know how broken the system is, until it breaks in YOUR life.

This past weekend, I spent time looking through old photographs. Needless to say, I am twice the woman I was back in my youth; both figuratively and literally. I, like many other women my age, have gained a lot of weight over the years. While I have struggled with diet, exercise, intermittent fasting and other purported remedies in an attempt to bring my weight down to a healthy level, nothing seems to work.  So I finally went to a nutritionist, and working with her I discovered that my problem is likely insulin resistance.

I felt really good to know that my weight gain was not just a matter of lack of control or exercise regimen. And, thank God, there was an injection that could help address the problem. So, they gave me samples of Wegovy, a medication that could help break my insulin resistance, and allow the other tactics I was using for weight-loss to work. They gave me two samples of the once-weekly dose, and I was on my new journey to a healthier body…I thought.

It turns out the medication is REALLY hard to keep stocked, and it is REALLY expensive. The Nutrition Center had a $25 coupon distributed by the manufacturer to make it accessible to patients. My pharmacy, however, told me they’d been trying, unsuccessfully, to get Wegovy in stock.  But that wasn’t all. The medication is not covered by Medicare, and the coupon cannot be used by Medicare patients. Understand, that with just two doses, I had begun to see results, and I was elated. You see, I am pre-diabetic, trying not to go to the next level. So it’s not vanity that motivates me, but health concerns. You must also understand that without insurance, the medication could cost as much as $1000/month.

So, there is a medication available that could help me achieve the weight loss I need in order to avoid diabetes and live a healthier life. But I can’t access it because America’s broken health-care system has allowed capitalism to dictate healthcare.

I do not purport to understand the mechanizations surrounding pharmaceutical prices, insurance and government regulation.  But I do know that people should not be denied needed healthcare due to the lack of wealth.  I do believe that Medicare should be allowed to negotiate fair prices for life-enhancing, life-sustaining drugs.

So this battle raging in Washington D.C. about President Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan will have a direct effect on MY life. I’m certain there is something in the plan that will directly affect your life as well.

If Democrats are successful in crafting a bill that will address run-away healthcare costs, I might be able to get and afford a medication that can positively affect my health and well-being. Their plan may result in better roads and highways in your community. Perhaps you’ll see higher paying jobs in your area, or more kids will gain access to higher education. 

So as difficult as it is to see endless news talk shows drone on about the battle in Washington, it really is relevant to each of us on an individual level. We must stay tuned in. And, if Washington D.C. does not deliver, we need to proactively seek representation that will give us results. We must make our voices heard. It really is all about us.

 

DEMOCRATIC RULE UNDER ATTACK IN AMERICA

 By Mildred Robertson

The foundation of American democracy is the participation of its citizenry. Our history is replete with stories of patriots who fought to the death to have a say in how this nation will be governed. One would think after close to 250 years, that matter would have been settled. But alas, we still struggle with who can lay claim to U.S. citizenship based on race, ethnicity, place of origin and religion. There are those among us who wish to rebut the unfettered immigration offered as a welcome to all willing to participate in this American experiment called democracy. The Statue of Liberty boldly proclaims, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses…”

“Not so,” says the party of Lincoln.

Republicans have determined that this nation and its bounty should restrict the benefits of citizenship to those who are more melanated than the Europeans who sailed to this continent, slaughtered its inhabitants and enslaved an entire race of people. (That statement is not Critical Race Theory—It’s just facts.)

According to our constitution every native-born and naturalized citizen over the age of 18 is eligible to vote (with some exceptions such as individuals who are incarcerated or on probation.) But Republican legislatures across this country are waging an all-out war to make it difficult for qualified Americans to vote, ranging from erecting barriers to registering and casting a vote, to purging voting rolls of qualified voters.

Laws proliferating in many Republican controlled legislatures are designed to:

• reduce early voting days, which is a voting practice widely used by minorities.
• reduce the number of hours polls are opened, particularly in democratic areas.
• reduce the number of polling places, resulting in long lines, particularly in minority neighborhoods.
• Deny felons the right to vote (approximately 1.4 million denied access each election, many of whom are black or Latino).
• require photo IDs, forcing tens of thousands to obtain new ID just to vote. This places particular  hardship on the poor or elderly who may have transportation problems, or have difficulty getting off work to obtain documentation. (To illustrate the impact of such laws, the Charlotte Observer reported that, in North Carolina, as many as 800,000 registered voters lacked the necessary photo ID, and more than 556,000 had no ID at all.)
• block college students from voting where they attend school, and denying them the right to use their college photo ID to vote.
• bar people from voting over small discrepancies, i.e., women who have recently married and changed their names.
• eliminate registered voters from the voting rolls who have not voted in consecutive elections.
• hamper or eliminate mail-in voting.

Other tactics used include intimidation at the polls, sometimes using armed police; misinformation where GOP campaigns and GOP-led governments have sent out mailings with incorrect dates and locations for voting; and gerrymandering where districts are drawn to benefit Republicans, making it almost impossible for the opposition to win. That is how Hillary Clinton won nearly 3 million more votes than Trump, yet still lost in the Electoral College. And then, there is the Electoral College itself where less populous states have statistically more representation than more densely populated states where many minorities reside.

As many minorities and Democrats struggle to counter this assault on democracy, there are those who chose to sit out the fight. While this nation’s Founders may not have intended for the benefits of American citizenship to be extended to any but male, white land owners, thank God that the constitution is a living document that has matured as our nation has developed toward becoming a true democracy.

But we are becoming.  We are not there yet.

Those of us who still believe in the promise of America must not sit idly by while disloyal seditionists betray our heritage and tear our nation apart. We cannot give in to hatred, racism and minority rule. We must stand firm if we are to realize the full vision of what America can be…”One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

 

Critical Race Theory and American Education

By: Mildred Robertson

The buzz phrase among republicans and conservatives these days is “Critical Race Theory," (CRT) defined as “an academic movement of civil-rights scholars and activists in the United States seeking to critically examine U.S. law as it intersects with issues of race in the U.S. and to challenge mainstream American liberal approaches to racial justice.” Seems simple enough, right?  But the term has been weaponized to attack a national shift toward better understanding racism and how it is rooted in this nation’s history of slavery and the dehumanization of people of color.  

There is disagreement between liberals and conservatives about what is “critical race theory.”  In fact, CRT is just that, a theory of race and racism in America.  It is taught primarily in colleges and universities and is designed to help students examine race in America and understand how it has informed America’s societal norms and  public policy related to people of color. It is not, as many on the right proclaim, a way to make white children hate America.  The aim of the study is to examine American history and address the dehumanizing effects race has had not only on the Africans who suffered through slavery, but also on the slave owners who had to forgo their humanity in order to enslave another human being. 

The knee-jerk reaction of conservatives, and yes, racists, when one begins to examine slavery is to downplay the cruelty and inhumanity of the system, and paint it as a benevolent necessity for development of the New World. And it is true that America could not have thrived as it did without the free labor the system provided. But because of the brutality of the system, Europeans had to create a scenario to justify their actions. That is why the African was portrayed as a savage, less than human…not entitled to human dignity or human comforts. Public policy in America was then created based upon this concept of the innate inferiority of enslaved people. 

For instance, in the 1930s, government officials literally drew lines around areas deemed poor financial risks, often explicitly due to the racial composition of inhabitants. Banks subsequently refused to offer mortgages to Black people in those areas. Today the pattern continues as cities prevent affordable housing developments in majority white neighborhoods. These are not pleasant facts, but they are part of the foundation upon which this nation was built. In order to create a more just society, we must examine how America came to be and the integral part played by enslaved people in its building. 

It is alleged that the study of CRT will create a greater divide between whites and blacks, and will negatively impact the perception of America by white children exposed to it. However, there is a difference between CRT taught in colleges and universities, and the simple teaching of history in public schools. 

History is fact-based. It simply tells what happened, when it happened, where it happened, who it happened too, and sometimes examines why it happened. Our public schools must present students with historical facts as they occurred.  Public education should present an authentic retelling of this country’s history. 

Our storied history is a saga of good and evil. We offer our children a disservice if we do not present our authentic selves to them, and provide them the tools to build on the good and reject the bad. That is the only way to make our society better. We are not responsible for the bad decisions made centuries ago; but we are responsible for the ones we make now.

We can address the legacy of slavery that plagues our nation to this day by creating thoughtful, truthful, age-appropriate curriculum to address race in America. We can only do that, however, if we face the reality of our history and chart an informed path for our future.

 

 

Joe Manchin’s Foolish Demand for Bipartisanship

 By Mildred Robertson

Bipartisanship is a key component of a healthy democracy. It is a tool that allows thoughtful consideration of all sides of a political situation.  Impartial deliberation is a method by which a governing body can arrive at a solution that addresses the desires of the majority while considering the needs of the minority. It is the foundation of good government striving to meet the needs of all its constituents. However, this methodology requires good-faith negotiations on the part of all participants. Therein lies the problem with Sen. Joe Machin’s demand that any legislation to which he adds his support must be based on bipartisan consensus.

The Republican Congress, led by Senator Mitchell McConnell, has vowed over the past two democratic presidencies to oppose any legislation proposed by Democrats. He showed his skillfulness in keeping that vow during the Obama presidency, when he blocked all meaningful legislation except the Affordable Care Act known as “Obama Care”, which he successfully weakened before its passage.

Now, faced with legislation critical to the survival of self-governing rule in this country, Machin has made the irrational decision to reject the Democrats’ move to kill the filibuster, and allow majority rule to prevail. He insists that his crucial vote will be withheld unless Democrats are able to bring along ten Republicans to support any legislation, thereby bringing the 117^th Congress to stalemate. This decision is either disingenuous or delusional, depending upon whether Machin’s position is based on his desire to be pivotal in the political landscape, or that he truly believes that he can negotiate with a McConnell-led Republican Party which has already demonstrated its penchant for opposing rather than governing.

Manchin has snatched defeat from the jaws of victory…invalidating the hard-fought win that seemingly resulted in a Democratic majority when Georgia elected two democrats to the Senate in January 2021. When senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff won their run-offs in January, it appeared that America had turned a corner, leaving behind the destructive politics of Donald Trump and the Republican Party. But with Manchin’s decision to oppose legislation that would strengthen voting rights, he denied Democrats the edge it needs to move forward without Republican support in the Senate. Manchin has single-handedly blocked progressive legislation that is overwhelmingly supported by the voting public; though possibly not by the majority of his constituents in West Virginia.

This conundrum has placed Democrats in a peculiar position. The will of the people, I believe, is clear. In 2021 they voted for leadership with a purpose and a plan. But with the defection of Manchin, and possibly one or two other democrats, the nation continues to be held hostage by the narrow, bigoted, and fruitless rule of the likes of Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump. Seemingly the majority; Democrats still languish in the halls of Congress, trying to determine a way to enact meaningful legislation to actually make America great again.  

Meanwhile, Manchin foolishly continues to attempt negotiation with an adversary who definitively states that negotiation is not an option; and he continues to fight efforts to eliminate the outdated and racist fillibuster which allows the minority to prevail. 

 

Nancy Pelosi Speaks Profound Truth

 By: Mildred Robertson

I watched Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi this morning on MSNBC, and she said something that to me was profound:  “Do the best you can, not the best you know how.”  It put into perspective the challenges faced by our congress, our country, and our individual selves.

Speaking from my personal life, I would rank myself an underachiever. I have many times said that, had my mother been given the opportunities I had, she would likely have achieved much more than I. I measure my God-given talent against my paltry accomplishments and think of all the missed opportunities in my life to just do better. Based upon my own measurement and my judgmental nature, I fall far short.

Speaker Pelosi’s words, however, gave me the opportunity to reassess and measure my life in terms of obstacles and opportunities. Just because you know what needs to be done in a particular situation does not mean that you have the wherewithal to do it. It may seem like giving yourself a pass; however those circumstances which block our way to success are sometimes out of our control. That does not mean that we don’t see and desire a particular goal. It just means we can’t access the necessary path to get there.

Case in point; the 117^th United States Congress. We celebrated the election of Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff to give congressional democrats the margin we needed to wrest power from the hands of Mitch McConnell. The majority of Americans recognized what was best for this country, and acted. Voters chose a progressive national agenda that would address voting rights, social justice, women’s issues, racial and economic disparity and a host of other issues that had suffered under the weight of oppressive Republican policies that made corporations people, and people less than human. While it was a major victory…there are obstacles.

The narrow margin that placed power in the hands of progressives is curated by Senator Joe Machin whose motivation is not yet clear. He, and his cohort, Sen. Kyrsten Senima have the power to deliver or deny democrats the vote on any particular initiative; and they have chosen to deny. They stand in the way of eliminating the filibuster which stymies the democrats’ efforts to go it alone to pass meaningful legislation opposed by intractable Republicans. You see, Nancy Pelosi and democratic senators know what’s best. It is just that obstacles deny them the opportunity to do what’s best.

The question is whether the obstacle is unmoved and unmovable. Are these two senators striving to do what’s best, or what’s best for themselves?

As we watch congressional leaders navigate the polluted waters of our nation’s politics we have to give them the leeway to address the obstacles. I do not know what it will take to persuade our two errant Senators to place the good of the nation above their own personal preferences and beliefs. I understand that that is a difficult ask. But in order for our nation to heal and move toward equality and prosperity for the masses, the progressive agenda must move forward.

I hope our leadership is fashioning a strategy to mitigate the obstacles to our recovery. I do not doubt that they are working diligently to eliminate opposition to the progressive agenda; whether it be disingenuous republicans, or stubborn democrats.  I am sure Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer know what is best; and they are trying to do the best they can.

Vaccine Hesitancy Endangers Us All

By Mildred Robertson

I get it. Covid-19 vaccination among blacks is a hard sell. America has a bad track record as it relates to abusing minorities when it comes to healthcare and healthcare trials. All one needs to say is ‘”the Tuskegee Experiment” or “Henrietta Lacks”. Healthcare researchers treated minorities as less than human as they exploited them for scientific gain. Then there is the way the Covid-19 Vaccine came into being. It seemed to have been created in a very short period of time compared to other vaccines which have been years—sometimes decade—in the making. Add to that the questionable practices of the previous administration which promoted ineffective and sometimes dangerous treatments to stop the spread of this deadly disease. It is easy to see why some question whether the Covid-19 Vaccine is safe and effective.

While many Americans worry about the negative effects the Covid-19 vaccine may have on an individual; it is clear what a Covid-19 infection can do to you. We do not have to look to India where a resurgence of Covid-19 is infecting thousands daily. We only have to look around at our friends, neighbors and relatives to see its devastating effects right here in America. I imagine that no individual reading this blog can say that they do not know someone who has either tested positive, become seriously ill, or perhaps even died from this disease. It is a fact that contracting Covid-19 could result in serious, life-threatening illness and death.

Much of the confusion rests with the CDC, which was severely compromised under the previous administration. Many experts either supported false claims promoted by the then president related to treatment of the disease, or remained silent in the face of his lies. They continue, even today to vacillate regarding what are the best practices to keep the majority of Americans safe from the disease. All that being said, I believe facts support the opinion that the COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19. You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. While these side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, they are generally transitory. Many experience no side effects at all.

Common side effects include pain, redness, and swelling in the arm where you received the shot, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea. Contrary to reports one might hear on a Fox News Channel or a Facebook post; to date, the CDC has not identified a single case where the Covid-19 vaccine is the cause of someone passing away. And data indicate that the vaccine decreases the risk of severe illness and death from the disease.

Why does it matter whether an individual chooses to get vaccinated: because, while we draw boundaries around ourselves and others in our community, our state and our nation…the disease does not. If a sufficient number of people in our community fail to be immunized, it allows the disease to mutate. It is possible that a mutation may develop that is not responsive to current vaccines, thereby putting us all at risk. So your personal decision to immunize effects each of us.

For those who are still hesitant about the vaccine, I am attaching some myth-busters being distributed by Cedar-Sinai, recognized as one of the best hospitals in the nation:

MYTH #1: The vaccine was rushed into development and might not be safe

"While the development of the COVID-19 vaccines using mRNA technology is new, scientists have been working on this technology for many years, in fact decades. We are very excited that they are now being able to use the mRNA technology for vaccines in a safe way. The reason it was developed so rapidly is because scientists were able to implement this technology since they had the RNA sequence of the virus as it was released in January 2020. This allowed them to incorporate the mRNA for the spike protein into the vaccine. Nothing about the clinical trials for the vaccines was rushed nor any shortcuts taken. In fact, the numbers of participants in the clinical trials for both Moderna and Pfizer were quite robust and very similar to the number of participants needed and required in prior vaccine studies."

MYTH #2: I'm young and healthy, so I don't need a vaccine

"COVID-19 is still a very unpredictable infection, and just because you are young and healthy doesn’t mean you won't have any of the complications of the infection that we continue to see. There are a few risk factors for severe disease that we have identified, but there’s still no guaranteed way to predict that you would have a mild or severe course with the infection. It is much safer and wiser to get the vaccine and deal with the slight discomfort and side effects temporarily than to subject yourself to the infection."

MYTH #3: The COVID-19 vaccine will affect my chances of becoming pregnant

"There has been no link between the COVID- 19 vaccines and a negative impact on female fertility. The data is reassuring regarding the use of this vaccine during pregnancy, and because the mRNA degrades so rapidly, it would be highly unlikely that the vaccine could cause issues with fertility."

MYTH #4: I can get COVID-19 from the vaccine

"What you may feel after you receive the COVID-19 vaccine is a mild fever, muscle soreness at the site of injection and fatigue. That is your immune system activating and starting to form the protective antibodies that it needs to fight off this virus if you are infected in the future. Compared to some of the live attenuated virus vaccines we have previously seen, the vaccine is noninfectious, so there is no way you can get COVID-19 infection from taking the vaccine itself."

Myth #5: I've had COVID-19, so I don't need the vaccine

"As far as we know, the antibody response that you are going to get from a vaccine is far more robust and more predictable than natural antibodies post-infection. Even if you’ve had COVID-19, it is a great idea to get a vaccine when you are able. Don’t forget to schedule your second dose for the vaccine as well. We also remind all those getting a vaccine to stick with the same platform–if you got Pfizer for your first dose, make sure you get the same for your second dose."

MYTH #6: I received the vaccine, therefore I don't have to wear a mask or social distance

"Vaccines are one of the many tools in our toolkit that we know can help prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, just because you received the COVID-19 vaccine does not mean you should stop wearing masks or social distancing. We are still trying to determine whether or not a person can spread the infection to others even when they are not infectious and have been vaccinated. Until we learn more, we should continue to do our part and remain masked and socially distant." Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Covid-19 Vaccine Update for Patients

For those of you who still hesitate to take the vaccine, I urge you to do independent research, which means certified healthcare entities. Not Facebook, Instagram, Fox News, “Bubba or Donte” down the street; but experts in the field. I believe independent research will convince you that the Covid-19 vaccine is preferable to contracting Covid, and God forbid, passing it on to your loved ones.

Get vaccinated. I did.

Update: The CDC indicates it is not necessary for vaccinated individuals to wear masks. 

America's Road to Recovery

By Mildred Robertson

The past four months have been a time of turmoil. We have experienced a seditionist uprising, the inauguration of a president, an organized fight to end Covid-19 through inoculation and legislation and the beginning of a trial not only of Derek Chauvin, but of the American justice system and America itself. To quote the famous novelist Charles Dickinson, "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times."  

As the nation emerges from the incompetent and tyrannical rule of the last four years, there is hope that the Biden/Harris administration can restore good governance and move this country forward. There are hopeful signs. Biden has been able to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccinations resulting in at least 114,436,039 people or 34% of the population having started the inoculation process.  Overall,  233,591,955 doses of the various vaccines have been distributed and 62,854,301 people have been fully vaccinated. 

That pace of distribution dwarfs the efforts of the previous administration. The Trump administration  predicted on December 15, 2020 that as many as 20 million Americans would be vaccinated by year's end. Their final result was a little over 31 million coronavirus vaccine doses distributed nationwide. They administered fewer than half of that number. But even with the Biden Amdinistration's accelerated production and distribution of the 3 vaccines found to be effective against the disease, Covid remains a threat to the nation's health and economy. 

As the battle against Covid continues, the nation is still plagued with continuing police violence against the black community. While in the midst of the Chauvin murder trial, the nation has learned of an "accidental" police shooting in Minnesota and the assault of a Lieutenant serving in the U.S. army who was pulled over, pepper sprayed, handcuffed and assaulted; all while displaying the license tag the police require in his back window.

Today as I pen this blog, our nation struggles with yet another school shooting. We again are sending out "thoughts and prayers" while republicans continue to block any realistic efforts to reform gun control...or police violence...or wage disparity, or healthcare...or; well, anything that might make the life of the common man more fair and equitable. 

And then, there is Joe Manchin. This West Virginia democrat chooses to stand in the way of the progressive agenda which is wildly popular among democrats and republicans alike. With a senate divided 51/50 in favor of the Democrats, Manchin has chosen to use the power of his one vote to hold the party hostage to his whims. He calls it a desire for bipartisanship. In reality, it appears to be a desire to buttress his personal ambitions. You see, it is clear that the party of "No" is not interested in bipartisanship and has no desire for a democratic president and a democratic congress to win. So, while Manchin's demand that democrats work across the aisle, appear noble, no one is fooled by his power play. The American people are thus forced to suffer and wait as democrats figure out a way to nuetralize their reticent 50th congressman.  

But, there is hope. 

President Biden has provided crucial funding through his Covid-relief bill, providing direct payments to citizens, many of whom were stuggling to meet the basic needs of life such as food and housing. The American Rescue Plan provides for child care credits, unemployment benefits, aid to local and state governments, housing assistance, school support, assistance for failing pension plans, employee retention tax credits, student loan relief and education funding. The bill also provides relief to assist rural health care providers, and much more. 

Biden also has signed a number executive orders undoing the damage done by the previous administration, and addressing issues that need immediate attention despite the failure of Congress to act.  (See sampling of Executive Orders below.) While these executive orders are effective in providing temporary relief to some of the problems caused by the previous administration, and many issues that existed prior to it, permanent legislation is required in order to achieve lasting change. 

If the Democratic Party can hold together its fragile lead in congress... If Biden can seduce a number of moderate republicans to abandon party and serve their constituents... If Joe Manchin would stop playing "Game of Thrones" and choose to legislate... If... 

Our president has a daunting task before him. He has already attacked it with vigor, and we see some evidence of the nation's revival. There are many important issues that have yet to be addressed that MUST be if we are to right this nation's path. 

But I believe he has a plan. The American people must have the patience to allow him to work it. Perhaps, with our patience and support,the worst of times in this nation's recent history can truly become the best of times. 

Follow the links below to access this sampling of  Executive Orders

1. Establishment of Interagency Task Force on the Reunification of Families
2. Strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act
3.Reforming Our Incarceration System To Eliminate the Use of Privately Operated Criminal Detention Facilities
4. Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government
5.Protecting Worker Health and Safety
6. Improving and Expanding Access to Care and Treatments for COVID-19
7. Ensuring a Lawful and Accurate Enumeration and Apportionment Pursuant to the Decennial Census